County's two 'cup finals'

PETER Ward believes Stockport County must treat their final two games of the season as cup finals. While the Hatters would appear to be safe from relegation, the danger of the club going into administration puts a different perspective on the games against Crewe and Brighton.

PETER Ward believes Stockport County must treat their final two games of the season as cup finals.

While the Hatters would appear to be safe from relegation, the danger of the club going into administration puts a different perspective on the games against Crewe and Brighton.

Any points deduction would be at the discretion of the Football League, which means that a 10-point loss could be applied before the end of the season throwing County into the League One relegation battle.

Ward said: "I think with all the rumours going around, we have to treat the next two games like cup finals. We will go out there and give 100 per cent.

"Nobody knows if or when we would go into administration but we have to be prepared for it.

"If we were to go into administration we could be drawn into a relegation battle so these final games against Crewe and Brighton are even more important.

"These are must-win games so, even if we lose 10 points, then it wouldn't affect us and we could keep our fate in our hands."

County play Crewe at Edgeley Park tomorrow night, knowing a victory could help send their Cheshire rivals down to League Two.

And Ward is hoping County's young players can give the fans something to cheer about after a run of one win in 12 games.

"The players have been excellent, they hear the rumours but they get on with it, the only thing they are interested in is football," he said.

"They have been professional about the whole thing, more professional than other people at the club - I couldn't speak more highly of them.

"It is a young squad, it has been a hard experience for them, thrusting young players in difficult situations, and they will be better players for it next season.

"We can't afford to be complacent and wait for next season to start again, we have to be positive and go out there for the win, the fans deserve that. They deserve a victory."